Member discussion regarding the methods, varieties and merits of growing tomatoes.
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August 1, 2008 | #1 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Brownville, Ne
Posts: 3,284
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what causes half ripe
Today I picked a Wes that was perfect from my point of view, but after it was off the vine I could see that one half was ripe and the other half was very green.( the ripe portion was like the eastern hemisphere and the line of demarcation was north pole to south)
This is the third Wes tomato taken from the plant and all three were in the 16-20 ounce size range. The other two tasted great. Should I let the entire fruit get red or cut off the green half? I know this has happened to me in other years, but never did ask for an explanation.
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August 2, 2008 | #2 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: michigan 6a/5b
Posts: 88
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im not sure what causes this but mine catch up sitting on the counter with a few other almost ripe tomatoes. bananas near will help too.
dave |
August 2, 2008 | #3 |
Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Upstate NY, zone 4b/5a
Posts: 21,169
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Paul, I can't recall ever seeing anything like that.
And it can't be a sun thing b'c fruits don't need sun to ripen.
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Carolyn |
August 2, 2008 | #4 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Brownville, Ne
Posts: 3,284
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Overnight it began to ripen. I hope the "ripe " side doesn't get too ripe before the other catches up.
http://tomatoville.com/attachment.ph...1&d=1217694611
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there's two things money can't buy; true love and home grown tomatoes. |
August 2, 2008 | #5 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Brush Prairie, WA
Posts: 925
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Yes Paul, I have seen that. As a matter of fact, if you look at my avatar on the left, you'll see a yellow one like that. I just ate the yellow part and cut off the rest.
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Linda10 |
August 2, 2008 | #6 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Chicago
Posts: 91
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My Aunt Gertie's Gold, Yellow Brandywine, and Opalka have been like that so far this year. Hopefully, it's just the first couple of fruits that do it and the remainders will ripen in a uniform manner.
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August 2, 2008 | #7 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: NE Kingdom, VT - Zone 3b
Posts: 1,439
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I've seen that with certain varieties. Worst I can remember was Prudens Purple. Look up sublethal sunscald, which is a likely culprit. I've seen it a few times in tomatoes that were subjected to plus 90 degree temps and bright sunshine for 3-4 days right after being set out.
One question Linda, in your avatar, did the yellow part turn red or stay yellow and hard? If so, that is sublethal sunscald. |
August 3, 2008 | #8 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Brush Prairie, WA
Posts: 925
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Bark, that is a yellow when ripe tomato, so yellow part was delicious. It was the green half that never ripened.
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Linda10 |
August 3, 2008 | #9 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: May 2008
Location: San Luis Obispo, CA
Posts: 22
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I've had this problem too with lobbed tomatoes. All will be ripe except for one of the lobes. I pick the tomato and let the green part ripen on the counter, and if it doesn't, I cut if off. I've often wondered what causes this also.
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August 8, 2008 | #10 |
Tomatovillian™ Honoree
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Lincoln, NE
Posts: 791
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Just this evening found 2 cherokee purples with this problem. Definitely not sun because they are deep inside a very leafy plant. Piegirl
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August 9, 2008 | #11 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Anmore, BC, Canada
Posts: 3,970
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incomplete pollenization perhaps?
Just a thought. I had a few of these in 2007, but not this year so far. Tania
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Tatiana's TOMATObase |
August 10, 2008 | #12 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: michigan 6a/5b
Posts: 88
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can pollinization be incomplete? hmmm would that be like a little bit pregnant?
looking at my tomatoes in the garden, im going to guess the side next to an already ripe tomato starts to get ripe itself. the other side usually catches up but not always. i would also think that the upwind side of the garden is more likely to have this problem. (ethelene gas being blown away) just an idea dave |
August 10, 2008 | #13 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: PNW
Posts: 4,743
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Some research in the UK with greenhouse tomatoes and fruit
picked at "mature green" stage indicated that high temperature pulses of a few days are implicated as one cause of uneven ripening and fruit softening: http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&cpsidt=14756929 Their baseline control temperature of 20.4C (68.72F) was quite low compared to daytime summer averages in much of the US and other inland continental areas, so one might want to repeat those tests with higher control temperatures and a wider selection of cultivars to see if higher average temperatures over the ripening season affects the results.
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